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A glance at the Henlopen Conference wrestling standings reveals that Indian River High School is in a rebuilding phase and probably a year or two away from contending with the state's big guns.

What it won't show, however, is that two IR wrestlers -- junior Will Carroll and senior Shawn Watkins -- are among Delaware's elite and may be ready to make serious runs at individual state titles.

The pair are a combined 19-1 this season and form the backbone of a youthful IR squad that has struggled early in the season.

Carroll has roared to an 12-0 start and on Jan. 2 captured the 135-pound title at the Seaford Invitational. By defeating Seaford's Brook Riggleman 7-4 in the final, he also took home the tournament's outstanding wrestler award.

"That was a good win for me," Carroll said. "I was really happy because I got some recognition from the other coaches."

As a 130-pound sophomore, Carroll went 31-7, finishing third at the conference tournament and seventh in the state meet.

"I did alright. I messed up in the states, though," he said.

But Carroll seems determined not to let last year's disappointment repeat itself come March. He trained vigorously in the off-season and fared well at two national tournaments during the summer.

At the AAU Grand Nationals in Orlando, Fla., Carroll placed fifth out of 52 wrestlers in the freestyle competition and sixth out of 48 in the Greco Roman division.

He later competed at the USA nationals in Fargo, N.D., placing 11th out of 216 freestyle wrestlers in his division.

"You can tell the good wrestlers when they're freshmen. You can tell if they're going to one day step it up," IR coach Kurt Howell said. "It's finally showing (for Carroll) this year. There was a lot of refining he need to do after last year."

Carroll's goals for the 1998-99 season are simple but not easy ­ win a state championship and, if possible, finish undefeated.

"It (state title) is definitely my goal. I'll do anything to do it," he said. "That's what I'm going to work as hard as I can do to."

When asked what the key to his success has been, Carroll offers an amusing pun.

"What helps is my Irish heritage. I've got WILL power," he jokes.

Carroll also excels in the classroom as a solid A/B student.

"I'm really trying hard in my classes," he said. "That's especially important to me this year because I want to show the colleges I'm not just an athlete."

Watkins has also come out of the gate strong, compiling a 7-1 record. His only loss was a 3-2 decision to Sussex Central's Kurt Wolfe in the 171-pound final of the Milford Invitational in early December.

"I've had a pretty decent year," he said. "I guess its too early to tell how I'm wrestling."

As a 160-pounder his junior year, Watkins went 30-5 and finished third in the conference and state meets. He now has his sights set on a state title in 1999.

"I definitely believe I can hang with anybody," said Watkins, whose off-season weight training program provided a boost for both his football and wrestling careers. "I feel as strong as anybody in the state right now."

Howell noted Watkins is normally a slow starter because of football but has started to shake off the rust.

"Shawn always starts the season slow," he said. "He' s starting to step it up, he's starting to turn the corner."

Watkins missed the Seaford Invitational due to illness but bounced back with a victory at Delmar last Tuesday. Having to sit out the Seaford tournament likely cost Watkins a shot at 100 career wins (he had 67 entering the season) but the senior is focusing on a bigger prize.

Both Carroll and Watkins believe the Indian River wrestling program has a bright future under Howell's direction. A number of wrestlers missed the Seaford tournament because of illness and family commitments but the Indians could surprise some opponents once the conference schedule is in full swing.

"We're doing alright. We're young," Carroll said. "I think we'll improve as soon as everything settles down."